A different kind of March Madness is on the horizon.
After a thrilling qualifying stage that featured Vinny Pasquantino hitting three home runs for Italy, leading to an upset over Mexico and a spot for the Americans, only eight nations remain in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Here are the teams:
Team USA (3-1)
Featuring stars like Aaron Judge, Paul Skeens, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Tarik Skubal.
Canada (3-1)
Led by Jameson Taillon, Josh Naylor, Michael Soroka, Cal Quantrill, and Logan Allen.
Japan (4-0)
Featuring Shohei Ohtani, Yusei Kikuchi, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Munetaka Murakami, and Seiya Suzuki.
Italy (4-0)
Featuring Vinny Pasquantino, Aaron Nola, Adam Ottavino, Jack Carianone, and John Barty.
Dominican Republic (4-0)
Led by Vlad Guerrero Jr., Juan Soto, Ketel Marte, Austin Wells, and Sandy Alcantara.
Puerto Rico (3-1)
Featuring Edwin Diaz, Nolan Arenado, Martin Maldonado, Eddie Rosario, and MJ Melendez.
Venezuela (3-1)
With notable players like Ronald Acuña Jr., Sal Perez, Jose Butto, Luis Arraez, and Gleyber Torres.
Korea (2-2)
Featuring Ryu Hyun-jin, Kim Hye-sung, Lee Jung-hoo, Park Hae-min, and Jamani Jones.
These teams will compete in the quarterfinals set to take place in Miami and Houston on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14.
If you’re keen on showing support for your country, there are still some last-minute tickets available. And surprisingly, they’re quite affordable.
As of this article, tickets for the game in Houston (Italy vs. Puerto Rico) are listed for as low as $46, fees included. Meanwhile, for the Miami match (Dominican Republic vs. South Korea), prices start at $131.
If fans want to catch the U.S. and Canadian games in Houston, entry is possible for around $55, including fees.
After the quarterfinals, the semifinals are slated for Sunday, March 15, and Monday, March 16, at Lawn Depot Park in Miami.
The championship will then take place in Miami on Tuesday, March 17.
World Baseball Classic Tickets
For those interested, there’s a full schedule available that includes details on match dates, venues, and links to purchase tickets at the best prices.
About the World Baseball Classic
The 2026 edition of this classic tournament marks its 20th anniversary, running for the sixth time. That’s quite an achievement!
Japan kicked off this tournament’s legacy by winning in both 2006 and 2009. The Dominican Republic claimed victory in 2013, followed by the U.S. in 2017.
The fifth edition, unfortunately canceled in 2023 due to COVID-19, featured a thrilling matchup between then-teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. In a nail-biting final inning, Ohtani switched from DH to reliever and clinched Japan’s win.
Looking at the current tournament, the USA faced an unexpected defeat by Italy, and made some history with the first walk-off win and a four-strikeout inning—interesting moments in the tournament, to say the least!
